The major holidays are filled with memories for most people. For those aborting a child near the time of any holiday, it is very likely that that holiday will forever be tarnished with the memory of the abortion. We are called to warn others of the consequences of a path of rebellion from God. We should not neglect to mention the effect an abortion will likely have on every anniversary of that holiday following an abortion.
Even more significantly, holidays can be used as a springboard to speak a pro-life message in a new and impactful way. The Christmas Story presented in the Bible is a very powerful parallel to the situation in which the abortion-minded women find themselves. It is not an exact parallel by any stretch of the imagination. However, there are key concepts and verses that can resonate with vulnerable women in an unplanned pregnancy. One of perhaps the most important aspects of Christmas is it is the celebration of a BABY…Jesus didn’t have to come to earth as an unborn baby, growing nine months in His mother’s womb. He could have come as a fully grown man, and started His ministry immediately. God chose to send Him to the world as an unborn baby. This speaks volumes about how God perceives the value of the unborn child!
The Christmas Story Big Picture
From the big picture conceptual perspective, Christmas is the story of a young, unmarried teenager who finds herself in a pregnancy she had not anticipated. She is scared and the situation is not only far from ideal, but she could literally be put to death for what appears to others to be the sin of adultery. She has to endure others’ suspicions and potential ostracism. She has to believe on faith what the angel told her that this unborn baby has a very significant and important purpose. She will carry that baby for nine months with only a partial understanding of what she has been called to do. Can you imagine the pain as she attempts to explain to her fiancée the circumstances of her pregnancy, only to have him initially not believe her, and plan to leave her quietly? Fortunately, the angel intervenes and tells Joseph the truth, but it must have been agony for Mary prior to that moment as her love and fidelity is called into question.
Parallels to Women at the Abortion Center
There are many aspects of this story that the women we encounter at the abortion center can relate to. Many are very young. Most are unwed. Most are in difficult circumstances. Many are in a struggling relationship due to the pregnancy. Many are terrified. Many do not understand the purpose God may have in allowing this to happen.
Of course, Mary was innocent of sexual sin, and in most cases of abortion, that is not true of the pregnant women. Mary carried the Messiah, the son of God in her womb. Obviously, that is not true of the women we encounter at the abortion center. However, while their child may not be the Messiah, that child has a unique and special purpose and value before God nonetheless.
Specific Verses/Things We Can Say During Christmas Season
When Christmas is approaching, I will often speak to the women about the Christmas story. I often begin in Luke 1 with the account of Elizabeth and Zacharias being informed that they will bear a son in their old age. He is John (the Baptist). There are some very significant verses to share.
“But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.” Luke 1:13
The admonition of the angel is DO NOT BE AFRAID. This is such an important thing to convey to the women at an abortion center. Most are operating out of fear. Fear makes us do terrible things. We should not make choices based on fear, which is why four separate times in the Christmas story, angels appear to tell the people involved DO NOT FEAR. The angel appears first to Zacharias, then Mary, then Joseph, and then the shepherds with the same message. DO NOT FEAR. This is God’s first admonition to the people who are facing unplanned pregnancy and it is a message we should also convey as we counsel abortion-determined women.
Humanity of the Unborn
Next, the scripture reveals a startling statement supporting the humanity of the unborn child.
“For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.” Luke 1:15
The unborn baby will be filled with the Holy Spirit…now…while in the womb! This is an amazing proclamation of the humanity and worth of the unborn child. The angel goes on to say not only that this child will clearly be known by God, and filled with God’s spirit, but the purpose of that unborn child is already mapped out and declared by God!
“It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”” Luke 1:17
That amazing verse not only points out that an unborn child has a divine plan and purpose, but notice in this case, he will have a part in restoring the right relationship of children with their fathers, and the rebellious people with their Eternal Father. It is clear that fathers SHOULD turn back to their children, and that they have lost that desired relationship. They parallel with the men at the abortion centers is obvious!
Remind Them of God’s Power
Then the angel appears to Mary and immediately tells her not to be afraid. The angel tells Mary what God’s plan is for this baby. When Mary wonders how all this can be, the angel says something of which we should always remind fearful women who are in unplanned pregnancies:
“For nothing will be impossible with God.”” Luke 1:37
God creates all life. Fear, and imperfect or difficult circumstances may cause a shaking of faith or belief that any good can come of an unplanned pregnancy. The women considering abortion have given up on God’s word and God’s plan and have decided to take matters into their own hands. But they need to be reminded, when they question how they can do what God would clearly have them do, of the empowering verse NOTHING is impossible with God.
The next aspect of the Christmas story that illustrates a critical fact is when Mary hurries to her cousin Elizabeth’s home where she will spend the next three months.
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.” Luke 1:41-44
First, notice that the FIRST recorded greeting of the unborn Messiah was FROM another unborn child. Baby John leaps in the womb, recognizing the unborn King and savior of the world. Not only is the unborn child humanized, having emotion and activity, but there is clearly a perceptive mind in the unborn that is a gift of God to that child. This is not just a blob of cells that will one day become human. Both unborn baby John and unborn baby Jesus are clearly depicted as human from the moment of conception.
That is further supported by the Greek word used to describe unborn baby Jesus as contrasted with the born baby Jesus. It is the same word: Brephos, which means “baby.”
Of course, the end of Mary’s story is she births Jesus who becomes the Savior of all humankind. God protects her and Jesus from all those who would destroy Him until the moment when He must be sacrificed to pay the terrible penalty of our sin. It is always appropriate to remind the women at the abortion center that the cost of continued rebellion from God is eternal. The Christmas story is always a beautiful entrée into the Gospel. It is only in a life fully submitted to Christ that true peace or hope that so many seek and even sing about at Christmas can be found.
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King”
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of Earth
Born to give them second birth
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Christ, the highest heaven adore
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Come, Desire of Nations, come
Fix in us Thy humble home
Come, Desire of Nations, come
Fix in us Thy humble home
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